Lincoln Common Wins Urban Land Institute’s 2024 Americas Award for Excellence

Lincoln Common is a winner of the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) 2024 Americas Awards for Excellence

Lincoln Common has been selected as a winner of the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) 2024 ULI Americas Awards for Excellence. The award marks an exciting and impactful milestone for the project, as the ULI program is a prominent indicator of the highest standards of development achievement within the industry. Lincoln Common is one of just 10 developments across North America—and the only Chicago winner—that will now compete alongside projects from the Europe and Asia Pacific regions in the 2024 ULI Global Awards for Excellence.

The ULI Awards jury evaluates submissions on overall excellence. Winning projects represent the highest standards of achievement in the land use profession. This year, 52 projects and programs from across the Americas were submitted for the competition. In addition to offering 54 affordable rental apartments—the first new affordable housing option in Chicago’s 47th ward in 35 years—Lincoln Common also stood out for its achievements in planning, architecture, construction, stewardship, and community engagement.

W.E. O’Neil implemented many innovative and first-of-its kind building strategies before building even began. Throughout demolition, 100% of the concrete from the 800,000 SF hospital complex was reprocessed and used as backfill on the site. 97% of all other materials were recycled, including steel. This eliminated 12,000 trucks from entering and exiting the site and diverted a significant amount of material from landfills, resulting in environmental benefits, minimal neighborhood disruption, and cost and schedule reductions. Take a deeper look at this process here.

W.E. O’Neil carried their innovative outlook to the hiring process as well. As a pioneer of workforce development in the construction trades, W.E. O’Neil partnered with the St. Paul Community Development Ministries to hire apprentices onto our job sites in an effort to help men and women from neighborhoods with high unemployment earn meaningful, sustainable jobs. This initiative expanded job training and employment opportunities for residents of economically challenged neighborhoods. Watch Carpenter Apprentice Henry Lee’s life-changing story here.

Lastly, the Lincoln Common development promotes a sustainable model of living. The overall campus is LEED Silver®, while the office is LEED Gold®. The development utilizes high-performance exterior systems and 66,000 SF of landscaped green-roof terraces in both towers. It includes the diversion of 75% of construction waste from landfills, a 50% reduction in potable water use for irrigation, and the use of recycled building materials. Green roofs over the retail podium draw inspiration from Chicago’s Urbs in Horto (‘City in a Garden’) motto and enhance views from the residential units.